January 24 — As the first Venezuelan to win a PGA Tour event, Jhonattan Vegas hoped that his inaugural visit to the tour’s winner’s circle would boost the game of golf in his native land.
“I hope this means a lot to my country,” Vegas told reporters after winning a three-man playoff on La Quinta’s Palmer course. “I really hope it means people changing their minds about the sport.”
Not a fan. Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez has closed six golf courses in the last seven years, lambasting golf as a waste of time for the rich. Vegas has said he hoped to have a chance to convince Chavez that the game was far more than a way for the wealthy to pass the time.
To further his love of the game, Vegas left Venezuela when he was 17 to attend the University of Texas. He played on the Nationwide Tour last year.
Vegas, playing in his fifth tour event, canned a 13-foot par putt on the second playoff hole to best Gary Woodland. Bill Haas got the boot on the first hole of overtime after Vegas and Woodland carded birdies. The three golfers finished at 27-under 333 in regulation.
Bradley’s nephew excels. Ryan Palmer closed the week in fourth place at 26-under. Keegan Bradley, the nephew of LPGA Hall of Famer and Westford, Mass., native Pat Bradley, shared seventh place after shooting a 70 in Sunday’s final round. It was the second PGA Tour event for Bradley, the pride of Woodstock, Vt.
Meanwhile, on the European Tour, read how Martin Kaymer dominated the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship on his way to dropping Tiger Woods to No. 3 in the world golf rankings.
(Emily Kay is a regular contributor to New England Golf Monthly. Check her out on the Waggle Room, Boston Golf Examiner, and National Golf Examiner websites. You may also follow Kay on Twitter.)
Related posts:
- Fantasy Golf Picks for the Bob Hope Classic
- Ace is wild for PGA Tour golfer Byrd in thrilling Las Vegas finish
- U.S. Open 2010: New England golfer Jon Curran hopes to
- You play those clubs? Sure hope you can putt lights out.
- Win Red Sox tickets at David Ortiz Celebrity Golf Classic online auction
